samaraI am completing a review with this company on my blog because I strongly feel it is necessary to warn other potential victims of this companies scam. Please always do an investigation with a company before you every do business with them. Search for information and reviews online about the company and also check out the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see what report they’ve given them. Never put your trust entirely into the companies claims. With that said let’s move on…
In April of this year(2009) I applied for services with Supportkids Inc. because my eldest sons father hasn’t paid any childsupport in over a year and I was desperate to get some assistance. He owed over $5000 in unpaid childsupport and I really thought SupportKids could assist me in collecting it. After first applying for information, I was immediately sent all sorts of letters and received phone calls from Supportkids trying to encourage me to sign up for their services. As soon as I decided to sign up I received a contract stating that a $475 fee would be taken out of the initial payment received from my sons father, and it would be a 34% fee every check there after.
I was very desperate as I stated earlier and I felt this was the only way I could collect because the agency in my county worked slow and sometimes they just seemed to be really dumb when it came to located my sons father and finding out where he worked. Out of my desperation for help I signed up with them without researching further. As soon as I signed up with them and submitted all the necessary information, all that communication I was getting beforehand ceased to exist!
I first called Supportkids to ask questions on the status of my case because it was the beginning of April when my case was accepted and I hadn’t heard anything. To my surprise I wasn’t talking to real people anymore. There wasn’t even a customer service option. I had to listen to a recorded message about cases being transferred and then I was disconnected. I then emailed Supportkids on May 28th, 2009 about my case and received an automated response. I didn’t get an actual response until June 5th, 2009 that stated the exact recorded message I heard on the phone:
Hello,
We apologize for the delay in our response.
Your case is ready to be sent to an Enforcement Specialist, but in order for case to be sent we need to have confirmation from your state agency that the change of address is in place. We have yet to receive this confirmation from your state agency. Once we know our information is in place with their office the case will be released to Enforcement.
Recently, a limited number of Supportkids cases were transferred to another collection agency. Your case was NOT transferred, but this change has caused a slight disruption to our operations. During this time we ask that you continue to utilize our email address, website, or automated system for updates on your case. We are working towards resolving these issues as soon as possible.
If your case is paying, you may experience a temporary delay in your child support payments.
Thank you for your patience as we work through these issues.
Supportkids, Inc.
Email: clientline@supportkids.com
Website: www.supportkids.com
Automated client line: 512-437-6025
Now I was just completely frustrated so I called the SupportKids sign up line to get some answers. Of course a “real” person answered, but then they told me I had to email Supportkids or call the automated client line again.
I waited a few weeks and I decided to see if I could find independent reviews on the Supportkids. What I found was nothing, but negative feedback about them:
http://www.xomreviews.com/supportkids.com
http://www.killerstartups.com/Site-Reviews/supportkids-com-get-help-collecting-child-support
http://singleparentsunite.blogspot.com/2008/09/supportkidsread-before-you-sign.html
I then emailed SupportKids on July 23rd asking for information on my case once again:
Hello,
I’m trying to figure out why it is taking so long for an update to my case or to receive some payments. I can’t even call and talk to a real person and after reading some reviews about your company I’m beginning to get worried. I was told you had some good info on my case so what’s the hold up?
Please email me ASAP. I need to know what’s going on with my case.
Case# [case # removed]
Samara Bowling
[email removed]
I waited a week and I received no response. I then emailed Support Kids again on July 30th:
To whom it may concern:
I will like to start the process of closing my case with your company and ending my contract. I do not like the lack of communication with your organization. I can’t call and speak with anyone and when I email you I get no response. I emailed you 6 days ago and still no response. You didn’t have an issue calling and mailing me to hassle me into signing up with you and as soon as I do all the communication ends. I will not be changing my mind at this point. At least when I deal with my county I can actually call and speak with a real person. I will seek the advice of a private attorney to end my contract with you and I am having my forwarding address changed with the county from yours to mine immediately.
Samara Bowling
Case#[case # removed]
[email removed]
It is now August 15th and I still haven’t heard from Supportkids. I also did my own investigation with the BBB and look at the information that I discovered on this company:
This didn’t even make my situation any better, especially after finding out the terrible score that the BBB gave them. I immediately filed my own complaint against them for failure to respond to emails and/or calls. I have also notified my county child support enforcement agency about the situation because from what I gather, SupportKids is just a scam! They prey on single parents that are financially desperate and they do nothing to enforce or collect. More than likely they wait until the county actually collects the money, but because they have set up direct deposit with the county the money will go directly to them first. After they take their fees for doing entirely nothing they forward the remaining balance to the custodial parent.
Do not fall for this scam like I did! Either seek out the help of an attorney or stick it out with your counties child support enforcement agency. I’d rather not collect and wait for the county, than to not collect, wait for the county, and have fees taken out of my check by a scam company for doing totally nothing!
Tags: Frustrated, Scams
Wow! That is quite unfortunate. Believe it or not, I had thought about going through them to get my child support payments. I’m sorry that this had to happen to you. This world is a cold, evil place. After this post, I know for certain that I will most likely go through a private attorney. I don’t know how I’m going to afford it, but I’ll find a way.
Good luck with this situation. I know exactly how you feel. I hope things get better.
Thanks for the support. Hopefully I can get out off the contract some way or another. Good luck collecting your support too. It’s much safer with a private attorney. It’s costly, but I’d rather pay for actual help than to be scammed out of money for no help at all.